The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-25
THE BALD KNoBBERs.
An Organization That Violated Law in
SURPRISING Lawlessness.


SURPRISING Lawlessness
A dispatch from Jefferson City, Mo-, to
the New York Herald says: A remarkable
ity and solemnity in the House of Represen-
tatives of this State yesterday
1t was signed by ''B f. Plummer, chief
of the Bald Knobbers," and notified the
Legislature that unless it adjourned the
extra session by the 25th inst the entire
force of the Bald Knobbers organization
would be summoned to disband it.
The communication excited only amuse-
ment, but similar communication year
ago would have met with far different re-
ceptlon.
AT that time the Bald Knobbers held I'M
disputed sway over Christian and fancy
counties They've above the courts ana
the law. They controlled elections. filled
offices, dominated society and terrorizeei
the community Their punishment for al
legged delinquencies ranged from whipping
to hanging, and their sentences were exc
cuted with but pretence of secrecy.
Now, however, the Bald Knobbers are
scattered ard their leaders are standing
within the shadow of the gallows.
The history of this remarkable organiza-
ton strilingly illustrates the way in which
extra legal bodies, founded with praise
worthy motives, become in the end the mere
instruments of private malice.
From the close of the war to the spring of
1885 there had been thirty-eight willful muir
ders in fancy county, and not one person
had been convicted of the crime Murder,
robbery and malicious mischief became the
order of the day, and an honest mans life
was constantly in jeopardy. The people
grew restless and impatient that they should
pay taxes and not be protected by the law,
and a few of the holder spirits began to dis
cuss the feasibility of organizing vigilance
committee
WAR ON A SUNDAY SCHOOL.
A Sunday school was opened, and this
evidence of desire for morality appeared
to irritate the evil doors. A band of broth
ers and their relatives, the Cogburns, a set
who were more reckless and depraved than
the famous Benders of Kansas, made open
threats that there had never been a Sunday
school in this neighborhood and they did not
intend to have one started at this late date.
The school was opened and the whole family
attended the services. Robert Cogburn
took prominent position in the building
and made blasphemous responses to the
prayers of the minister and the children
At this outrage the people became clamor-
GUS to the county officials and demanded
protection. The officials acknowledged their
weakness and said they could do nothing as
they could not get jury that would dare
convict the outlaws. This effort on the
part of the people only increased the
malignity of the men, and a series of per-
solutions began. Stock was killed or mutt
lated, barns and houses were burned, and
the tongues of all the cattle belonging to one
farmer were cut out from purely malicious
Vantonness.
ORGANIZING AGAINST OUTLAWS.
A leader was wanted
Who would be brave enough to take the
initiative in organizing opposition to these
outlaws!
The man was ready for the hour of need.
The most reliable men of the county re-
ceived notice to meet on the top of a bare
ridge near Forsyth for the purpose of per-
fecting an organization to protect life and
property With fear and trembling a few
approached the spot indicated, in terror lest
it should be trap into which they were
being drawn. On their arrival at the de-
signated place they found man typical of
the cause for which they were expected to
enlist.
Capt. Kinney was a giant in stature,
being six and a half feet tall and weigh
ing 260 pounds. He was broad shouldered,
straight as an arrow and as active as he was
fearless
Here indeed, was leader. He was the
owner of large cattle ranch near Forsyth
and had been pioneer all his life. He then
butl plttnbctk Ullc ScCa WulCH grow W
the now world-famed BALD Knobbers.n
This little knot of men on the bald knob of
a jutting spur of the Ozark Mountains
banded themselves together for mutual
protection, and with clasped hands took
upon themselves the following obligation
BALD KNoBBERs OATH.
81 do solemnly swear to use every effort
in my power, and at all times, to preserve
the dignity and good ordes of this COM
munity by hunting down and bringing to
Justice all criminals and securing evidence
against the same, and to be always ready to
assist and protect the county officials in
the discharge of their duty, and in all cases
to stand by the members Of this organiza-
ton"
The name of ''Bald Knobbers" was chosen
and the perfection of the organization was
completed secretly. All who were known to
be honest and law abiding citizens were in
vited to join, and soon they felt them
selves to be strong enough to take active
measures to rid the county of the out
laws who had so long terrorized the COM
munity
Grips, signs and passwords were used,
and Capt. Kinney was given almost abso-
lutte power over the movements of the men,
hers
REGULATING THE REGION.
The first to come under the notice OF the
organization were the Taylor brothers.
These were set of young desperadoes who
kept the whole county in a state of terror.
They would ride on the porches and into
houses, firing their guns and pistols through
the doors and windows at the frightened in
mates At times they would be absent for
several days, and on their return would show
quantities OF money, saying that they did
not have towork so long as there was any
enc to rob-
In drunken spree they went to the post
office at Eglinton and deliberately shot down
the wife of the postmaster because she re-
\ fused them credit for pair of shoes. The
husband attempted resistance, but was in
stantly killed.
The call went forth and the Bald Knob
bers started on their first errand OF justice.
Silently the forces were marshalled and
silently the work was performed. The
morning sun shone on two dangling
corpses, whose bodies bore the following
placard:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ..s..ss..ss '''.'''.''''N
BEWARE
These are the first victims to the wrath Of
Outraged citizens
More will follow,
THE BALD KNOBBERS." :
The secrecy and swiftness of the work fell
like a thunderbolt on the community ana